Fenty Beauty by Rihanna

Photo courtesy of: Fenty Beauty

A few years ago we all heard that Rihanna signed with a beauty agency to create her own line of beauty products. Knowing all things Rhianna, we all knew she wasn’t going to release anything less than excellence.

Ms. Robyn Rihanna Fenty snatched our scalps when she released “Fenty Beauty”, boasting 40 foundations shades, F-O-R-T-Y-F-U-C-K-I-N-G-S-H-A-D-E-S OF FOUNDATION. She thought of every undertone for every single person: fair, medium, warm, tan, deep, pink, red, yellow, green and blue! Along with the very INCLUSIVE range of foundations, Riri released a collection of Match Stix: stick concealer, contour shades, highlights and blushes. She also released powder highlights, mattifying blotting powders, blotting sheets, a lip gloss and brushes. UGH—this woman makes me sick, she’s so perfect.

I wasn’t able to purchase everything in the collection but I was able to snag a few things:

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Pro Filt’r Foundation
($34.00)

Shade in 310

The first thing that came to mind with this collection was that Rihanna really focused on skin. She wanted to set the foundation (no pun intended) for the rest of her line to flourish. However, even with 40 foundation shades, the journey to finding the ‘right’ shade is still a challenging one. The Pro Filt’r Foundations oxidize after your first application, this means that once the foundation formula is combined with oxygen, the color deepens a shade darker. So, to test out a color that “matches” your skin tone takes trial and error. I purchased: 310, 330 & 340 hoping to find a shade that matched my undertone, and after color testing-- 310 seemed to be the shade that settled into my skin the most naturally.

This foundation is medium to buildable coverage and finishes demi matte which gives your skin a shine free finish without looking cakey. As per the product description, “The oil-free formula is made with climate-adaptive technology that’s resistant to sweat and humidity, and won’t clog pores so that wherever you are, it’s going to work on your skin.” For someone like me with oily/combination skin—a demi matte is a heaven send. After a full day of testing the foundation, my makeup didn't melt off and still felt comfortable on my skin without flaking (Hallelujah!). I’ve been wearing this foundation a few days in a row and it’s climbing to the top of my most used foundation list. 10/10 for everyday foundation.

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Match Stix
($25.00)

Fenty came out with 10 Match Stix Shimmer Skinsticks and 20 Match Stix Matte Skinstix that all magnetize together so you can mix and match or purchase a trio without losing track of the product. The shimmer skinstix are meant to be used as highlight sticks and/or blush sticks. The matte matchstix are meant for concealing and contouring. Both Match Stix are a cream to powder finish, creamy, blendable and meant for all skin types. I purchased one of each Match stick: Chili Mango, Rum, Sand and Truffle. My favorite? Hands down, Chili Mango cream blush. This color is amazing on tan skin tones and is subtle while still giving off a beautiful bright finish. My vote: 10/10

Now for the contour and concealer sticks. So. Great color payoff, creamy and blendable. The concealer stick isn’t the smoothest under the eye area, when I tried to use the concealer stick under my waterline, it tug my skin a lot and that's a big no-no for me unfortunately. I still personally suggest using a liquid concealer for your under eye, but for your forehead, nose and chin, the stick works fine. The cream contour in “Truffle” was a great shade for me, the cream blended out fine while using a beauty blender and I can foresee using this stick for special occasions. If you’re a fan of cream contouring, the stick is easy to use. My vote: 7/10

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Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter
($34.00)

Other than the 40 foundation shades, everyone talked about these highlighters! The most talked about highlight was Trophy Wife which is an electric gold highlight and is super editorial. While I thought Trophy Wife was incredible, I purchased the shimmer duo in Mean Money & Hu$tla Baby. Mean Money is a soft champagne sheen and Hu$tla Baby is supercharged champagne shimmer. A lot of people were underwhelmed with the light sheen on Mean Money but I actually love it. It’s more of a soft-focus powder vs a highlight, but I thoroughly enjoy Mean Money for a soft filtered glow. If you need a highlight that shines bright like a diamond (I’m killing it with the puns today) Hu$tla Baby is the color you want.  It’s luminizing but at the same time provides you with a dewey glow. 9/10

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 Gloss Bomb Universal Lip
($18.00)

I was surprised that Fenty only released one lip product. Although looking back on the entire collection, because every product was focused on skin—this gloss bomb was perfect. And as you can imagine with the word “Bomb” in it’s name, this gloss is ridiculously shimmery, glossy and soft with a rose nude tint. This gloss is not sticky, it glides on smooth and it smells like sweet tarts! The smell so sweet and sugary it’s almost like you have a pixie stick lip gloss, it’s the best! 10/10    

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OVERALL REVIEW

My favorite items from the collection are hands down the foundation, the blush stick and the highlighters. If you have oily/combination skin like me, the journey to find the right foundation shade is worth the effort. The Killawatt highlighters are fun, bright and give you a natural glow without any chunky fall out. I was disappointed with the matte match stix, and I really really wanted to like them. I’ve never been a big fan of stick concealers or cream contouring (yes, i know i'm a hater) so I am aware that my rating is biased based on my own preferences.

Otherwise, I loved everything I picked up in the collection. The color range is noteworthy because beauty brands very rarely create collections with all people of color in mind. Fenty has a foundation with no pigment for people with albinism all the way to a set of foundations for deep shades for red, neutral and cool undertones. It’s incredible, inclusive and well intended for women to look and feel confident in their own skin. Well done Fenty.. Well done.

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GLAM SHOTS

Products Used
Foundation: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Foundation in 310
Cream Contour: Fenty Matte Match Stix in Truffle
Cream Concealer: Fenty Matte Match stix in Sand
Cream Highlight: Fenty Shimmer Match Stix in Rum
Cream Blush:  Fenty Shimmer Match Stix in Chili Mango
Powder Highlight: Fenty Killawatt highlighter in Hu$tla Baby

Eye Makeup: 
Eyeshadow: Dose of Colors Turbosan
Lipstick: Dose of Colors Saváge

DESIxKATY by Dose of Colors

Hi, yes. Hello. I’m back..

And not only am I back. I have the Dose of Colors DesixKaty collaboration ready for you along with makeup looks.. See, I’m a good blogger right?

Don’t answer that.

If you’re an avid makeup junkie or beauty enthusiast, you’ve likely heard of this thing called YouTube. It’s an incredible platform where you can stream videos of almost ANYTHING. Want to learn how to contour? YouTube. Want to learn how to apply false lashes? YouTube. Want to watch a 10-minute video of kittens sleeping? YouTube.

Two of my favorite makeup guru’s on YouTube who happen to be besties are Desi Perkins and Katy Degroot (Lustrelux). I've been watching Katy on YouTube way back when she lived in Oakland YEARS ago. She (I think) is my twin soul, so when she befriended Desi Perkins (who is my skin tone twin) I was delighted by their constant interaction. But when they both collaborated with DOSE OF COLORS….

I lost my mind.

After locking myself in a room for their first drop, I was able to purchase most of the set. The only problem I had, was that DOC took almost a month to ship the entire collection to me. I get it—Mercury was in retrograde, orders were lost and items were back ordered, but it was frustrating. Either way, after a painful 3+ weeks of waiting I finally received my package.

Now here we are, ready to blog, review and swatch, just in time for their re-stock on Sunday, September 24th.. Ladies and gentlemen, The DesixKaty collaboration:

Everything about this collection is Fire. From the packaging all the way to the products themselves, this collection is incredible. So let’s get started:

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“THE GIRLS”
An eyeshadow quad with 4 luxuriously shimmery colors, all named after their dogs (Naturally). ($28.00)

SUZ- crisp bright champagne shade. A super creamy texture that is formulated to be used WET. One drop of water on your finger is all you need. 

HARPOON- A cool tone green base with green and gold reflects. This unique shade is formulated to be used WET.

TURBOSAN- Start sparkling with this ultra-luxe shadow that is packed with shimmering reflects. For intense color payoff and a glistening finish, apply with finger.

NOLI- A sultry bronze shade thats infused with gold reflects. This perfect bronze shade is a powerfully pigmented formula that glides onto the lids for a silky-smooth finish.

L-R: Suz, Noli, Turbosan, Harpoon

REVIEW: The only thing that is inconvenient about this quad is that you’re going to get the best color payoff when using your finger to apply, wet or dry. There are a number of factors that will affect your eyeshadow application: long nails, little eyeshadow experience and Cheetos. Not everyone will have the experience to apply these shadows onto their eyelid correctly using just their fingers. So, there will be a learning curve involved for some users. Also, if you’re not careful, any eyeshadow left over on your finger can possibly interfere with the rest of your makeup application, so please be careful! Otherwise—these colors are absolutely BEAUTIFUL and perfect for a glamorous night out.  

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“FUEGO” and “MIRAME”
‘My highlight brings all the boys to the yard - And my light is better than yours- and they’re like - It’s better than yours -  I can teach you - but I have to charge’ ($28.00 per highlighter)

FUEGO – Light Champagne Gold
MIRAME – Rose Gold

L-R: Fuego, Mirame

REVIEW: These ladies brought some serious GLOW to this collection. I’ve layered these highlighters together and separately, and both colors are soft, gentle but with a nice BLINDING effect. With one layer, you can achieve a healthy glow without looking oily. Or you can layer the highlight over and over again for a wet look. 10/10 if you have to pick one product from the collection, I recommend the highlighters.

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“NO SHADE” and “MORE CREAMER PLEASE”
Lipsticks with a Creamy/Matte finish ($16.00 per lipstick)

NO SHADE – Light peachy nude
MORE CREAMER PLEASE – Deep nude with a brown/peach undertone

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“HOT FIRE”, “SAVAGE” LIQUID LIPSTICK & “OVER THE TOP” GLOSS
Liquid lipstick with a velvet matte finish that glides on smoothly and stays put throughout the day.  ($18.00/liquid lipstick & $15.00/gloss)

HOT FIRE – Fiery Orange Red
SAVÁGE – Rich Black based Burgundy
OVER THE TOP – A mega-shine clear gloss infused with reflective gold reflects

Considering that Dose of Colors liquid lipsticks are my favorite formula, I knew from the bottom of my heart that these liquid lipsticks were going to be amazing.

L-R: No Shade, More Creamer Please, Hot Fire, Saváge

REVIEW:
Now, as a tanned lady myself—I have a hard time finding a few things: the right foundation color match, the right concealer color and the perfect nude lipstick. And then I met “More creamer please”.. I found my soul mate! Not only do these lipsticks feel creamy, they finish creamy. More Creamer Please is on the warm peachy side and is the truest nude I've ever worn. I’ve always had a hard time with nudes because I’ve always had to mix lip liners and lipsticks for the perfect color, until now. I’m so happy that this collection includes a deeper nude for the ladies blessed with melanin.

No Shade is a little bit too light for me, but I can see this being absolutely perfect for people with lighter skin tones. It's beautiful!

Hot Fire is just a bit too neon for my skin tone, so I do have to line my lips with a blue based red to keep my skin from looking too tan. But I do love the color, and I'm excited to add this color to my kit, it’s bright and playful for any night out.

Now Saváge is definitely not for the weak. If you want an ox blood, dramatic lip color, please.. Be a savage and go with Saváge for the night, you'll definitely turn some heads.    

Over the Top is the most beautiful shimmery golden lip gloss. It looks really glittery in the tube but It’ll leave your lips looking juicy and fresh with a soft honey-like tint.

OVERALL REVIEW:
Buy this collection.. Or If you’re interested in one or two of the products in the set, I say just go for it. I promise, you will not be disappointed. The collection compliments a wide range of skin tones and use high quality ingredients. Almost all products in the collection are vegan and ALL products are cruelty free. But don't be a slacker and wait. Pick up the collection on the Dose of Colors website, or at Naimies online when they restock on Sunday, September 24th.

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GLAM SHOTS

PRODUCTS USED:
Eyes:
Noli, Suz, MAC: Soft Brown & Texture

Foundation:
Fenty Pro Filt’r Foundation in 310

Lips:
More Creamer Please & Over the Top gloss

Highlight:
Mirame & Fuego layered on top of eachother

Contour:
ABH – Tan contour kit

Lashes:
House of Lashes – Boudoir

Mastering the Master palette by Mario Dedivanovic

I have been WAITING for this palette. Like ~ W A I T I N G G G G ~ for this palette to come out. Makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic is famously known for his work with Kim Kardashian and the Kardashian family, but he’s also worked with classic beauties like Chanel Iman, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Bosworth, Gabrielle Union, Kelly Ripa and Jourdan Dunn to name a few. With his undeniable talent and ability to SLAYYYYY, it was obvious that Mario’s next steps would be to build his own brand with a beauty product. And if you follow Mario on his social media channels (Like I do) you know that he has a longstanding personal and professional relationship with Anastasia Soare, so when Mario hinted at a collaboration, it was only natural that Anastasia Beverly Hills be the brand platform. 

I woke up early AF to put in my order for 2 palettes. Thank goodness because (as I predicted) the palette sold out in a matter of hours. And on the glorious day when that blessed package came to my office, my heart was beating with excitement as I jumped up and down screaming “It’s here!! ITS HEEEEEERRRE!!". My male colleagues who do NOT understand my infatuation with makeup were concerned for my health and mental state due to the box of “powders” at my desk….. *eyeroll* boys smh…

Ugh, Its just SO pretty! Isn’t is pretty??? Just look at it! I was too scared to touch it— does that happen to anyone else? When I buy makeup, sometimes I have this fear that I’m going to ruin it by touching it. I’ll sit on my bed and stare at my makeup for an eternity hoping it will tell me its secrets…Is that not okay? 

Alright so here goes my review:

PACKAGING:
Like most Anastasia palettes I own, the eyeshadows are in a cardboard case with a mirrored cover that flips all the way around so the palette can sit flat on the table. As a makeup artist and lover of organization, can I tell you how MF CLUTCH this is? The only time I take out a palette that doesn’t sit flat is if it includes a powder that is detrimental to the process, and/or if the case is too hard to break apart. Otherwise, I depot you and put you in a Z-Palette with the rest of my friends. 

COLOR:
This palette comes with 12 neutral shades combined with a range of jewel tones in both matte and metallic finishes:

Hollywood (metallic wheat gold with a satin finish)
NYC (rich chocolate brown with a satin finish)
Kim (tan with a satin finish)
Muse (rose gold with a satin finish)
Marina (champagne with a metallic finish)
Claudia (slate with a velvet finish)
Lula (soft taupe with an ultra-matte finish)
Isabel (burnt orange with an ultra-matte finish)
Violeta (dark chocolate with an ultra-matte finish)
5th Ave (gold leaf with a metallic finish)
Bronx (metallic olive with a satin finish)
Paris (gilded brown with a satin finish)

SWATCHES:

FORMULA:
Soft, pigmented and SO pretty! Most ABH eyeshadows are soft and pigmented so this palette has the same quality in powders. But because the powders are so soft and luxurious, you have to be careful of fallout during the application process (Press, press, press and tap tap if you know what I'm sayin'). Otherwise, you can apply these eyeshadows dry or wet and still get the same quality pigment. 

LONGEVITY:
When prepped and primed well, the eyeshadows last a strong 6-8 hours without fading. Especially when foiling your shadows with the shimmers and Metallics, the pigment stays pretty true to color for hours. Check out this glowy look I did on my friend and fellow MUA Maria using: Hollywood, Lula, Isabel, Violeta & Kim. 

OVERALL REVIEW:
I am a FAN.. The colors in his palette work well with most skin tones— there's so much variety in terms of color and texture and it’s just PRETTY! It’s so GATDAMN pretty! And at $45.00 a palette, sold at AnastasiaBeverlyHills.com, Sephora and Ulta— this palette is a must have and will be a staple for your kit.     

Thicky Thick - Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick Foundation

Photo courtesy of: Hourglass.com 

There's something so satisfying about purchasing a new foundation, especially when you’ve found a color that matches well and provides amazing coverage. Hourglass released their new Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation sticks, and while there are a ton of new foundation sticks on the market, I was particularly interested in the Hourglass foundation stick because: 

1. They are known for their foundation quality
2. This foundation is meant to adjust to body temperature
3. I don’t personally own any Hourglass foundations— so I took this opportunity to add to my collection. 

As a naturally tanned goddess, I have a hard time finding colors that match my skin tone perfectly. With 28 shades to choose from I was excited to pick out my new best friend. I want to commend companies like Hourglass and Cover FX (another classic fave) for catering to multiple skin tones while still providing maximum quality. 

PACKAGING:
Can we say sleek? This chocolate brown casing is sturdy, sleek and built in a triangle tube to provide a comfortable grip and easy application. The foundation itself was also in a triangular formation, and while that’s different compared to the other foundation sticks in the market, it made the application process precise, fairly simple and hassle free. Plus it’s easy to throw in your bag and good when you need to apply foundation on the go.

COLOR:
I matched with Golden Amber.. I know I’m a tan goddess, but HOT DAMN did I get dark over the summer. Golden Amber is a bit darker than I usually go, but the medium deep color with a neutral undertone fit my skin tone perfectly so I was juiced.

SWATCH:
Not my best swatch, but with a slight hand (and in one swipe) I was able to produce full coverage. So. Much. Pigment. sooooo. muuuuuuuch. PIGMENNNTTT!!!

FORMULA:
Don’t say I didn’t warn you :) The foundation is FULL COVERAGE! You can dilute the product with a face oil or moisturizer, but stick to skin, this foundation is THICKY THICK. This stick is meant to be a foundation and concealer all in one, so the formula is infused with double the pigment for instant coverage. 

LONGEVITY:
This product is long-wearing and waterproof, it provides 12 hour lasting power for special occasions where you need all day full coverage. The innovative formula adjusts to your body temperature to blend into the skin effortlessly. I wore this foundation to the Beyonce concert (I danced HARD ya'll) and an outdoor wedding in 80 degree heat and it didn’t smudge, or melt off. Can we say Impressive? 

OVERALL REVIEW:
Will I buy more? Yes. Will I buy again? Yes. While pricey at a smooth $46.00 a stick, you could purchase multiple colors and use the sticks for contour and highlight. Otherwise, buying this foundation for full coverage is well worth the price tag. 

Toast to the Good Life - Becca & Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection

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For all the highlight obsessed makeup junkies out there, you must have known about the Jaclyn Hill & Becca Champagne Collection. I hopped on the website a few weeks ago and I am SO happy that I scooped a palette, because the Champagne Collection Face Palette sold out FAST.

On the heels of Jaclyn Hill's Champagne Pop highlighter in collaboration with Becca Cosmetics, Jaclyn Hill's next product was not only a new highlighter (because we were all expecting one new highlighter) but a FACE PALETTE, including Champagne Pop, her new highlighter Prosecco Pop and 3 mineral and luminous blushes! This b*tch came prepared to slay the makeup game.. And I'm not mad ;)

PACKAGING:
The packaging came in a sturdy gold and white plastic case, that seemed to protect the powders well. The top half of the palette is a large mirror which is perfect for when you travel and/or are applying your makeup on the go. The palette is a bit thick, but OH so pretty!!

COLORS:
Highlighters:
Champagne POP - Soft white gold with pink/peachy luminous shimmer
Prosecco POP - Wark golden luminous shimmer

Blushes: 
Rose Spritz - Luminous blush, Soft peachy pink with pale gold shimmer
Amaretto - Mineral blush, Matte toasted almond blush/bronzer
Pamplemousse - Mineral blush, Matte warm coral pink

LONGEVITY:
I've used this palette on myself as well as my clients, and I will tell you that this GLEAM that radiates from your face lasts hours and all throughout the night. I've used Prosecco pop on a bride who had a candle lit wedding and her highlight was on display from miles away. Well, maybe not miles, but from the back of the room :)

SWATCHES:

L-R: Champagne pop, Prosecco pop, Rose Spritz, Amaretto, Pamplemousse

OVERALL:
Overall, how can you NOT love this palette?! All the blushes and highlighters are high quality and extremely luminous! You can mix and match with all the colors to create something fun for all skin types. Hop on it and I promise you won't regret it. 

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DOSE of Colors Hidden Treasures Palette - Gemstone Metallic REALNESS

Its that time of the year again, Weddings, Proms, (Insert life event here) Showers, Fundraising events, etc.. Basically anytime you'll need a full face of glam, and a bottle full of wine at your fingertips. DOSE of colors recently released an eyeshadow palette called 'Hidden Treasures'. Where you can find natural jewel toned eyeshadow colors for your everyday glamour session.  

PACKAGING:
Look at that Beaut! The packaging is designed to look as though you've opened up a treasure chest and found 10 metallic and matte gems to cover your eye sockets for a night out on the town. 

LONGEVITY:
I recently used a few colors from this palette on a bride and
1- the colors are PIGMENTED AF!
2- With a primer or concealer to lock the color onto your skin, the colors stay on for a really long time. My Bride had her makeup on starting at noon and had a full face of makeup for a good 8 hours before fading. 

COLORS:

Pearl – Off white Shimmer
Coin – Golden Metallic
Key – Brown Matte
Crown – Burnt copper – Metallic
Ruby – Deep red – Metallic
Gemstone – Chamapagne – Metallic
ONYX – Black – Matte
Map – Mauve Matte
Locket – Tan/Beige Matte
Diamond – Nude/Pink Metallic

Check out my close ups so you can enjoy the colors in all its shimmery glory:

SWATCHES:
Jesus GAWD have you seen these swatches? HAVE YOU??? Check out my swatches below :) When I said these eyeshadows were pigmented, I was SO serious. These eyeshadows come off almost like a foil without having to use a wet brush. It's beautiful! After I swatched these shadows in the light, I turned up the Drake album, faked a few salsa moves and WAS. KILLIN EM! 

TMI? Oh well, the colors are beautiful and made me a happy girl :)

PRICE:
$50.00. For 10 eyeshadows, that breaks down to $5.00/eyeshadow. And for colors this pigmented, the Hidden Treasures palette is a STEAL ON THE REAL.

OVERALL:
I have always been a fan of DOSE of colors, so I jumped at the chance to purchase this palette. The only Con that I have is the placement of the eyeshadows within the palette. I understand it's purpose and design, however-- because I am a freelance makeup artist, the placement gives my OCD a little kick in the ass. Most of my palettes are organized in a way that it's easier for me to look and pull a color for my client. With this palette it forces me to search for a color (in my head) in an unorganized way. AGAIN, I am aware that my makeup problems are different from the average makeup enthusiast, but I thought I would voice my opinion here. 

Overall if you like Metallics and need a little shimmer in your life, check this palette out, it's one not to miss!

Glow So Hard - Elcie Glow Enhancer Product Review

Many women (like me) love the look of a good highlight, and many women (like me) love the look of radiant skin. Elcie Cosmetics, owned by the glamour goddess Lilit Caradanian created the Glow Enhancer dry oil right on the heels of their best selling Micro Silque Foundation (which I'm waiting for my new bottle to arrive). To satisfy the needs of women (like me) obsessed with glowing skin.

The Glow Enhancer is a lightweight dry face oil with a mixture of meadow foam, Jojoba and Rose Hip oils to lock in moisture, control excess oils from producing onto your skin and helps to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. To help with the glow, there's finely milled mica particles mixed into the oil to help provide a light reflecting base for your foundation.

I tried my best to capture the amount of shimmer that the oil leaves on your skin, you can literally see all the glitter specs in one drop. The oil is lightweight and while the mica particles are finely milled, when spreading the product onto your skin, you can somewhat feel the glitter specs. Nothing rough, but just enough so you know that it's present in the product. 

Here I am trying to look casual and #deep while staring at a wall. Thank God for my colleague Anny whom i lured outside the building and forced to snap my photo in exchange for pack of gummy bears. Well worth it I'm sure :)
I personally saw a difference in my skin's appearance after applying the Glow Enhancer. My skin looked softer, my pores looked smaller and I exuded a glow so hard MF's want to fine me. Now onto the rest of my review.

Color
The oil has a champagne shimmer that is so hypnotizing I started at the bottle for a good 5 minutes before even trying it on. When you apply the drops of oil to your skin, the shimmer distributes onto your skin evenly and doesn't feel chunky. 

Longevity
I wore the oil under my Giorgio Armani Maestro foundation for 10 hours. This is an enhancing product, so it helped to make my skin look radiant and smooth. I do have an oily t-zone, so by the end of the day my skin looked a little bit more shiny than usual, but my cheeks (which are usually dry) continued to look radiant and filled with glow.  

Cons
I wore the glow oil with a tinted moisturizer the day before and for some reason I could see the glitter particles on my skin. I'm not sure if this was because I used more than two drops, or if it was because I did not use a medium to full coverage foundation. The shimmer was present through my tinted moisturizer and it did look a bit odd, but using a foundation with better coverage helped to really bring out the radiance.

Overall
If you love glowing skin, and want to exude radiance, this product is right for you. I think it's a great skin care product on its own for hair and body. I wouldn't necessarily leave it on my face without applying foundation, but I would leave it on my neck, shoulders or arms if I wanted a little bit more 'body glow'. I suggest using a medium to buildable coverage foundation to help the oils illuminate your skin.   

Release Date
The Glow Enhancer launches on April 19th at 12:00pm on www.ElcieCosmectics.com for $48.00 per bottle. 

Don't sleep on it.

Beauty Treasures from Morocco

For my annual girls trip, we decided to visit Spain and stop off in Morocco. While, i've been to Spain before (and Spain is ALWAYS a good time) I was UBER excited to visit Morocco. What some people don't know, is that I have a small obsession with the movie Aladdin and I took this opportunity to experience Arabian nights and Arabian days, where more often than not, are hotter than hot, in a lot of good waaaaaayyyyyssss!! :D I couldn’t wait to immerse myself in as much of the Moroccan culture that i possibly could in 6 days. My friends and I visited Casablanca, Marrakech and Essouira and i can officially say that I am in LOOOVE with Morocco <3 

While in the souk in Marrakech, one of the Berber vendors offered my group a traditional Moroccan clay lipstick/lip tint. I. Was. Intrigued. The lipstick looked like the top of a clay pot, and when the vendor applied water to the base of the clay, the mixture of the clay and water produced lipstick. I thought this was fucking fascinating! So of course, the makeup nerd in me went ahead and researched Moroccan clay lipstick and heres what I found:

The red clay is made of red ochre terra-cotta mixed with a red vegetable dye. Some of the clay is blended with powdered poppy or rose petals mixed with a little wax, and can also contain henna. The Berber vendor called it “Aker" and it can be used as a lipstick, with the color varying between deep red and a dark fuchsia.

When touching the clay, the color does not bleed directly onto your hand, in order to release the color, you have to moisten the clay with Rose water or fix plus. The type of solution you use to release the color, correlates to the consistency of the lipstick. i tried vaseline for a lip tint and rose water for a lipstick. You can also use the clay pot as a blush, for a natural flush.

The one other beauty purchase I made was a Kohl Kajal eyeliner! Anyone who watched Sex and the City 2 the movie saw when Carri Bradshaw went to the souk and purchased shoes and a Kohl eyeliner. When i saw this i had to try it! This eyeliner is composed of Vegetable oil, beeswax, minerals and Ghee (all natural purified butter).  

Although if i'm going to be honest, when i looked at the kohl eyeliner i thought 2 things:
1) How in the HECK do I apply this eyeliner without looking like i got into a fight with a bottle of charcoal? 
2) Why does the product say "France" if its Moroccan?

Here are my answers:
1) After kicking it with my girl Google, i learned that you're supposed to swipe the liner flat on its side onto your eyelids, however i personally used the tip of the eyeliner and it worked fine. I imagine when the sharp tip rounds out, i can take an eyeliner brush and pull product directly from the Kohl.
2) Morocco was colonized by France in the early 1900's and explains why most Berber's speak French and Arabic. I relied heavily on Google translate to help me with my french during this trip :)

Overall, i am happy i purchased these products from the souk and i cant wait to continue putting these products to good use.

Glow GLEAM Kit, Review and Swatches

Ok so can we discuss these highlighter palettes by Anastasia Beverly Hills? I had no intention of purchasing these highlighters at IMATS and then bam! I am now the proud owner of the Gleam Glow Kit. Naturally I hovered over the “That Glow” palette for a while but for some reason the soft highlight and rosy tones in the Gleam kit called my name. These colors are meant to complement all skin tones so I had no doubt that the Gleam kit would suit my tan exterior. 

COLORS:
Hard Candy – A rosey pink highlight

Mimosa – Golden peach color

Starburst – Silvery pink highlight  

Crushed Pearl – Light champagne color 

Often times I’ll mix and match a ton of colors for a highlight that can be seen from space :)  For a more intense highlight, just apply water to your makeup brush before swiping the highlight color, this will help make the colors pop. Or you can cover your face in highlight and go running in the dark, the highlight serves as reflective running gear so cars and deer can see you from afar. I’m joking.. But that would be funny if it worked that way :) 

Jeffree Star Androgyny Swatches and Dupes!

I bought my first Jeffree Star liquid lipstick!!!!!!!!! I’ve been a fan girl of Jeffree Star (Makeup artist, musician, model, fashion designer) for a while now and I’m excited to playyyyy. Unfortunately every time I’ve been online to purchase their liquid lipsticks, every color I want is sold out or my computer gets a virus and crashes as soon as I whip out my credit card. It's almost like my laptop knows I’m going to buy another lipstick :/

Fast forwarding to now, I always thought Androgyny was a gorgeous mauve color and the coveting spirit comes over me when i see a product I absolutely love. Low and behold (Thanks to my boo thang Erika) Androgyny basically fell into my lap! I wore my new lipstick that same night and I am one happy customer :) Check out my review below.

Packaging
Hot pink, Stars and Lipstick. If I were a rock star/makeup artist/all around Glamour Diva, I’d choose bold packaging too. The lipstick itself is cased in a clear tube with hot pink and gold stars. The packaging definitely stands out in my lipstick collection and I’m not mad at it. 

Formula
Applying the product onto my lips, it felt very runny. Immediately after application some of the product ended up on my teeth, not the most convenient experience for my first try. After I cleaned the residue, the lipstick dried smooth and set beautifully on my lips. The formula feels like butter, dries matte but doesn’t feel drying on my lips. Compared to the Colourpop/Dose of Colors liquid lipsticks, Jeffree Star’s formula is silky and (while runny) dries comfortably on the lips. 

Color
Jeffree Star’s collection of lipstick colors are very different than your average lipstick collection. The colors are vibrant and unique, Androgyny being one of the more tame colors in the bunch. I haven’t had the chance to purchase more colors, but I definitely will try it out.  

Dupes
While Androgyny is a very beautiful color, it looks a lot like Colourpop’s Stingraye and Chilly Chili. The formula is clearly different, but the color is very similar. If you don’t want to shell out 18 big one's for Jeffree Star but love the color, Stingraye or ChilliChili are more affordable lipsticks with similar colors.  

Longevity
I tried had the lipstick on at around 8:00pm for an art show and past midnight (a hotdog and a few drinks later) the color did not feather, fade (with the exception of the hot dog, and even then I barely had to reapply) nor did it flake. I haven’t tried wearing the colors for more than 8 hours, but based on other reviews, Jeffree Star liquid lipsticks have amazing staying power.

Cons
Aside from the ultra runny formula, the products can only be ordered online. You cannot visit your local Namies of Nigel’s to pick up a few colors, so you’d have to rely on the swatches online to help you decide which colors to purchase. IF the colors are available. These lipsticks are always selling out! (which technically isn’t really a con but you know.. Whatevs)

Overall
Jeffree Star's formula is different from what I’ve tried in the market, so I’m happy I had the chance to purchase this product. The staying power, color pigment and non drying formula makes this liquid lipstick a winner.

#KaePop Karrueche + Colourpop Haul

Courtesy of Colourpop Cosmetics

Other than people telling me that she's my doppleganger, Karrueche Tran is quickly becoming a socialite in today's media. Karrueche recently released a line of cosmetics through one of my new favorite brands Colourpop Cosmetics, and i couldn't help myself to a mini haul :) The #Kaepop collection consists of 4 eyeshadows, 3 liquid lipsticks and 3 corresponding liners.  While I'm not the biggest fan of Colourpop's eyeshadows, I purchased 2 liquid lipsticks and 2 liners. Check out the swatches below.

Of the three colors, I chose Kae and Chi. Rooch was a bit dark for me, plus i already have a few dark brown colors in my kit.  See the lip looks below: Chi and Kae with their corresponding lip liners.

I can't say enough good things about Colourpop. The formula stays on my lips throughout the day without feathering, the color payoff is incredible and the price point makes it affordable for everyone.  

The one thing that I did notice about the KaePop liquid lipsticks, is that the doe foot applicator is different from Colourpop's current applicator. See photos below. 

Colourpop's Limbo on the Left and Kaepop's Kae on the right

The Kaepop applicator has a flat rounded 'foot' compared to the current Colourpop applicator. Personally, i love this. You are able to deposit the product more evenly onto your lips, and it feels softer which is always nice.

Overall, of the 4 products I chose from, I'm happy with my selections and can see these colors being a staple in my makeup bag.

Dose of Colors Haul & Swatches

SOOOOOOOO.... we all know I'm addicted to lipsticks. I own more lipsticks than i own shoes.. i think? :) Of all the lipsticks i own, what's my absolute favorite brand? Dose of Colors. duh! IMATS was an opportunity for me to binge and splurge on my favorite brand, and i'm SO happy I did. 

I knew i had to get a few of the new colors: Mood, Desert Suede and Cork. And while i was at the Dose of Colors booth, i picked up Truffle because its such a beautiful color. Check out my swatches and looks below.

Colors: Mood, Cork, Truffle, Desert Suede

Mood

Cork

Truffle

Desert Suede

Mood, Cork, Desert Suede & Truffle

BTS: Beauty Shots

A few months ago (I know, i'm late) I had an amazing opportunity to work with a few photographers and a gorgeous model for head shots.  I love Love LOVE beauty makeup, theres something beautiful about enhancing an individual's natural beauty and focusing on the details. So when I was offered this opportunity i jumped at the chance to work with makeup in this capacity.  

Photographers: 
Faran Najafi
Matthew Richmond

Model:
Erin Marquez

Beauty Breakdown for Erin

Face:
MAC Matchmaster 2.0
MAC NC20 Concealer
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden
Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Palette
The Balm Bahama Mama
The Balm Mary Lou Mainzer

Lips:
MAC lipstick in Pillowtalk

Blush:
Ingot Blush #29

E/S:
Urban Decay Naked Palette 

Brows:
Benefit Brow Zings - Medium

IMATS LA 2016 - The Year of Extra.

As some of you know, i wait all year long to attend the Mecca of makeup conferences.. IMATS. The International Makeup Artists Trade Show hosted in Pasadena, CA. Every makeup artist and beauty enthusiast within a 600 mile radius treks down to Southern California for two days of beauty worship and excessive spending. 

After 6 years of attending IMATS and armed with a full makeup kit, what else could I possibly purchase? Everything.. i bought everything.

Obligatory IMATS photo with my BFFs

House of Lashes had the BEST backdrop, i could stay in front of this stand forever :)

At the Kat Von D booth :)

Meet my boo Jim.. He's my twin :)

After all the fun and Debauchery of IMATS, the next day my fellow BFFs and MUAs wandered off to the local Naimies and Nigels to see what beauty products they offered. Again, i bought more than i wanted, but everything was well worth it.

Now on to the Haul!

Haul:

Dose of Colors: Mood, Desert Suede, Cork, Teddy, Corset, Scarlet Lace, Truffle & Poise

Anastasia Beverly Hills: Brow Wiz, Brow Definer, Glow Kit in Gleam, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Palette & Brow gel

Lashes in a Box: N 20 and E1

Dr. Peter Thomas Roth: CC Cream

Kat Von D: Blush in Hansel & Gretel, Lolita 1 & 2, Shade and Light Palette

Cinema Secrets: Brush Cleanser

Frankie Rose: Prime Addiction

House of Lashes: Bambi, Boudoir, Featherette 

KoKo Lashes: Flirty, Misha, Goddess, Soho

Elcie: Micro Silk Foundation in Warm Ivory

Z Palette: 2 sizes

Aloe: Hawaiian Moon Aloe

Crown Brush: Disposable lip brushes and mascara wands

And for those of you interested in the product breakdown for my war paint, check out the list below:

MOTD:
Face: 
Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation in G60
Cover FX Concealer in Medium
Laura Mercier Loose Translucent Setting Powder
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder: Luminous Light
MAC MSF in Medium Tan
Bronzer: The Balm - Bahama Mama & Betty-Lou Manizer
Blush: Milani - Luminoso
Highlight: Becca - Champagne Pop

Eyes:
MAC: Brun, Soft brown, Rule
Urban Decay: Bootycall
Eyeliner: Tartist eyeliner
Lashes: KoKo lashes in SoHo

Brows:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Soft Brown
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow in Dark Brown

Lips:
MAC etcetera liner
Dose of Colors - Poise Lipstick
 

ColourPop Liquid Ultra Matte Lip Review & Swatches

Kitty Holiday Collection (5 pack) priced at $20.00

These ColourPop Liquid Ultra Matte Lipsticks have quickly climbed up my list of faves! I personally have 15+ ultra matte lipsticks and at their price point it's pretty hard to stop collecting.

I purchased the Kitty collection for the holiday along with 6 lipsticks I wanted to add to my repertoire. Photos, swatches and reviews below! 

Full sized ultra matte lipsticks priced at $6.00 each

Packaging:
These lipsticks come in an acrylic tube with a metallic cap. The packaging looks clean, classic and fairly sturdy. I've dropped the lipsticks on hardwood and cement and the packaging stays together pretty nicely, though the metallic lettering on the tube seems to come off pretty easily. Of all my Colourpop lipsticks, I've only had a problem with 1 tube not being able to close properly, dripping product all over the inside of my purse :(

Formula:
The formula of this product is more silky than creamy compared to my Dose of Colors liquid lipsticks. The consistency of Colourpop's liquid lipsticks remind me a lot of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipsticks, very smooth and runny yet opaque. When applied, the finish is a bit drying but it still provides enough elasticity to where its buildable, mixable and not uncomfortable.     

Color:
The color payoff is bright, beautiful and true to the website swatches. When in it's tube, some of the colors can look similar but when applied, the colors have very different outcomes. See the swatches from my purchase below. The first picture is from the Kitty collection, the second picture is from the 6 other purchases. 

Longevity:
I have never experienced Colourpop's liquid lipsticks bleeding from my lips. I typically wear chapstick or prime my lips before i wear any matte lipsticks so I've never had an issue with Colourpop running outside of the lip line. In terms of longevity, I will say that i mixed two colors for my birthday and i never had to re-apply once. On an average day these lipsticks last about 5-6 hours before I have to re-apply.    

Cons:
I have very little cons for this product, it's long lasting with a beautiful color payoff :) The only confusion i had about the holiday collection was that I had no idea that the Kitty lipsticks were miniature versions of the full sized lipsticks, so when i opened my package, I was surprised at how small they were.

Final Thoughts:
At $6.00 a piece, these lipsticks are the ultimate deal! The color selection is incredible, and I would recommend purchasing this product ASAP!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit for Holiday 2015

For a Holiday product, Hourglass came out with a limited edition Ambient lighting palette pretty early on in the season. And I’m not mad at it :)

According to Hourglass, this palette is a, “Wardrobe of handmade powders, blushes, bronzer, and the debut of the new Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder". And it's, " Designed to give you everything you need to finish, brighten, contour and highlight your skin in a single compact.”

I’m obsessed with Hourglass, I never leave a makeup look untouched with their product. Each powder has optically transparent particles that help with seamless blending, especially when it comes to their blush and bronzer options. 

Now on to the review:

Packaging
The packaging is DIVIIIIINE! The 6 powders are protected in this chocolate/rose gold casing that includes a large mirror. Not only are the powders gorgeous, the packaging is just as beautiful and luxurious as the product itself.

Formula:
These powders have "Photoluminescent Technology” to help refine the appearance of your skin’s complexion, leaving you with a glowing finish. This basically means that the powders help to filter out the harsh lines on your face. AKA it’s like you’re walking around with the “Valencia” filter on your face all throughout the day ;)

Color:
The colors provided in the palette are:

Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light
Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder in Iridescent Strobe Light
Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light
Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush
Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure
Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Luminous Bronze Light

The only new color in the Edit palette is the "Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder in Iridescent Strobe Light” which is meant for strobing, and I must say the product comes off very glowy and shimmery at the same time. All in all each powder also adds luminescence to every skin tone which makes it universally flattering (Which also puts this palette high on my list of faves). 

Longevity 
The day I decided to wear basically every color in the palette, it was 97 degrees in San Francisco and I forgot to set my makeup with setting spray. I was sure my makeup would melt off! Luckily for my skin, the makeup stayed in place and after 6-7 hours, the color started to dulled out just a bit. Altogether the glow lasted 11+ hours on my face in the raging heat and through date night with le boo.

Cons
The size of each of the powders in the palette is 0.049 oz. In a permanent individual lighting powder is 0.35 oz. The limited edition sizes vs the permanent sizes are drastically different. And for $80.00 per palette I would hope that Hourglass would provide more product for the price. I totally missed taking a picture of my individual lighting powder against my palette, but www.Beautzine.com had a beautiful comparison on their website, so I’ve included it below.

Image courtesy of www.Beautzine.com 

Overall
I'm obsessed. Although i was a bit disappointed in the product sizes, I am still very happy with the product. I love the pigment, texture, finish and most of all, the GLOW. This product is a must have in your kit because it caters to most (if not ALL) skin tones, and provides a filtered light that radiates a glow better than any powder i've seen on the market. 

California Mission Inspired Photoshoot by Loft Photography

Earlier this summer I worked with a group of UBER talented individuals who had a vision for a California Mission inspired photoshoot. I was invited to beautify their gorgeous model for the shoot. I was SO honored to be a part of this shoot surrounded by professionals with an eye for style and design. For more photos and info, check out the blog LemonadeandLenses.com. Credits below:   

Venue: Mission San Rafael
Invitation Suite: Alex Leigh Franklin
Gown: Sarah Seven
Hair Stylist: Justine with Prettyologie
Makeup Artist: Angelie Herreria
Florist: Willene Design 
Model: Amber Fernandez 
oftPhotography.com
LoftPhotography.com/Blog
 

TLS Highlighter Review

So i dont know if anyone noticed, but i love highlighters.. I am obsessed with looking as fertile as possible by using any and all beauty highlighters. Just like many beauty junkies, i am a STAN for Manny the MUA. But really, who isn't? Anyway, he put the world on these new TLS highlighters that blew. my. mind.

Of course i had to try these little babies out on my own, so i bought a little starter pack for my kit. I purchased Glow Gawd, Blushing Bride and Sunkissed. Basically 1 highlight per skin tone range. Check out my review for each highlighter below. Please note that i packed on the product to my fingers to emphasize the pigment. When applied, you actually don't need very much to achieve a glowy look.

GLOW GAWD: 

One of their top highlights, Glow Gawd is a soft golden iridescent color that looks subtly sweet when applied to the orbital bone. There are soft flecks of gold that make the pigment more yellow, and looks great on any skin tone.

SUNKISSED:

Sunkissed is a beautiful golden powder that is clearly on the warmer side, but is perfect for those with a darker/warmer skin tone.

BLUSHING BRIDE:

Blushing Bride is a light pink iridescent powder. this color can soften any skin tone, and reminds me a lot of the Hourglass ambient light powders, and is similar to the soft focus light that the product provides.

Price Point:
Each pot of pigment costs $9.75 per 6 gm of product.

Formula:
This highlighter is a loose pigment made up of mica, titanium dioxide, silica and some pigments include iron oxides. I haven't had any of my clients to react negatively from the product, neither did I, so I enjoyed using these highlighters. Also this highlighter is amazing and a little will go a long way.

Packaging:
The pigments come in a plastic container with a twist cap. The product is contained under a plastic filter/grinder that prevents the pigment from spilling out. 

Color:
Overall, I like the color payoff of these highlighters are very pigmented and you can probably see this highlight from space :) Some of the colors look similar but have a subtle undertone that comes through in it's iridescence. 

Longevity:
I've used this highlight on a client, set her with Fix+ and it STUCK to her like glue. I use this product on myself for dinner and dancing but didn't set my face, and the product stayed on for 6+ hours. <3 <3 <3  

Tips: This product is a loose pigment highlighter and i will say that the product can get messy, especially if you forget to close the filter in its packaging.

I like this product and would recommend these colors to any makeup artist and beauty junkie. Especially for MUA's who are starting their kits, these products really provide excellent quality for it's price point. The packaging is cute and fits in any makeup kit so it's easy to travel with. 

Squeeze, Line and Define with the Tarte Tarteist Clay Liner

I. DIE. For a beautiful winged eyeliner. I envied Amy Winehouse for her courage and commitment to winged eyeliner, It’s the best.. We all know applying eyeliner is not easy, it does take a lot of practice but a good eyeliner will make any artist ugly-cry in amazement.  Friends… Let me introduce you to the Tarte Tarteist Clay Liner. I have been hunting this liner for months.. Unfortunately I slacked on jumping on this product when it first came out and of course, the eyeliner ended up sold out everywhere. The Universe brought me to this liner when I walked into Sephora this weekend. I stopped in the aisle and asked God to deliver me when I grabbed the last box… What can I say, God is good :) 

Now onto the eyeliner! 

Formula: The formula is waterproof and happens to be a hybrid between a liquid and a gel liner. Like most Tarte products, this liner includes Amazonian Clay, this makes the product creamy without being runny, which allows you to define your liner flawlessly without tugging. 

Packaging: You can tell that the packaging for this product was designed with the creative in mind. The eyeliner comes in a squeezable tube and can be applied with the included eyeliner brush. The top of the tube has a tapered round mixing palette so that you can blend the product onto the brush. I Love!

Photo Courtesy of Sephora.com  

Color: BLACK like my soul! After the first swipe of color, you can see the richness of the product. But just like any eyeliner, sometimes (depending on how much product you use) you have to double up on the application to make the color more opaque. 

Longevity: This liner is smudge proof, waterproof and lasted a full work day + a few Happy Hours (+/-10 hours) with very little budging. *flame emojis*

Tips: Be Careful when you squeeze the tube, if you aren’t careful a ton of product will spill out. *crying face emoji*

**Please note that I have combination skin with very little crease in my eyelid. I’ve heard that oily lids, or hooded eyelids have a hard time with this product, but for me, I had no trouble with application or lasting power. 

Overall I love this product and will buy again :)

Relief for Sensitive Skin

Ok.. Confession. I have sensitive skin, I’ve had sensitive skin since I was 8 years old and I’m obsessed with finding new skin care products to try. I have psoriasis and had to care and treat my skin using a variety of different treatments for almost 20 years. I leaned how to control and treat my psoriasis using topical medications and establishing a skincare regimen that works best to reduce my flares. Unfortunately there is no cure for psoriasis, but there are a ton of all natural treatments to ease the pain.

Most recently I’ve discovered an all natural Sappo Hill's oatmeal soap from Whole Foods. I've told anyone that will listen to me about it, and it's glorious. Colloidal Oatmeal (finely grained oatmeal) promotes wound healing, collagen and stimulates the production of immune cells in the skin, this makes your skin stronger. The oats can absorb the excess oil in the skin, removes bacteria and has ultraviolet absorbing properties. Basically the colloidal oatmeal clean's, protect's and calm's your skin.

Photo Courtesy of SappoHill.com  

Since I was on this "all natural remedy" kick, I stepped into my neighborhood LUSH and bought the holy grail of body lotions: Dream Cream. This body lotion has oat milk, rose water, organic cocoa butter, chamomile, tea tree oil and lavender oil. Basically all the best ingredients for sensitive skin thrown in a jar, cracked with magic and sold with a smile. Anyone who's ever researched skin care, knows that oatmeal, rose water, tea tree oil and lavender are all MAJOR remedies for sensitive skin. All of these properties offer antibacterial, healing and soothing effects. Again.. it's organic/fair trade magic.

Don't believe me? Just watch... Slap some oatmeal soap and Dream Cream on your skin and watch the magic happen. After 2 days of use I began to see results! My skin calmed down and the uncomfortable feeling of having psoriasis subsided. If you have sensitive skin like excema, acne or rosacia, oatmeal soap works like a charm. 

Now go on and get your life!